Portsmouth

Portsmouth's population expanded in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and religion.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Portsmouth increased by 9.8%, from almost 187,000 to 205,000.

The addition of about 18,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Portsmouth was home to, on average, 36 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Portsmouth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Portsmouth decreased by one year, from 35 to 34 years.

This city had a lower average age than the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 9,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 19% of people in Portsmouth are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Portsmouth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Portsmouth

Portsmouth saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44%) people aged 16 and over in Portsmouth said they were single, compared with 36% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 42% to 37%.

Across the region, Canterbury saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 32% in 2001 to 39% in 2011).

During this period, Portsmouth overtook Reading to become the South East local authority area with the fourth-highest percentage of single people.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Portsmouth residents that were studying increased from 4.2% to 6.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54% in 2001. The percentage of Portsmouth residents that were unemployed increased from 3.1% to 4.3%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Portsmouth increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Portsmouth, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Portsmouth saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just under one in four (25%) households in Portsmouth rented privately, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes remained close to 18%.

Across the region, only Slough (from 11% to 24%) and Reading (from 15% to 26%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of privately rented homes, as the regional average grew from 10% to 16%.

Private renting in Portsmouth increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Portsmouth, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Portsmouth

The percentage of Portsmouth residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 5.4%, while the percentage of Portsmouth residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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